Chapter 227 - 124: The Immortal Master is Dead (Part 2)
Chapter 227: Chapter 124: The Immortal Master is Dead (Part 2)
The Martial Pavilion.
’A fine destination, indeed.’
Su Chen had become quite familiar with the place over the years.
HUMMM!
The Tree Whiskers surged.
Su Chen sped toward the Imperial Palace under the cover of night.
When he reappeared,
he was already deep within the Imperial Palace, before a seventy-seven-story tower enveloped in a seven-colored radiance.
"Who goes there?"
The Book Collection Martial Pavilion held the most complete collection of cultivation and even Immortal Dao scriptures in all of Daqi, so it was naturally guarded by experts. In an instant, two black-robed figures appeared, one in front of Su Chen and one behind.
They both radiated the aura of the Innate Realm.
"It is I!"
Su Chen had a cold, aloof air about him, his hands clasped behind his back.
At this moment, he had transformed into Chu Shan: a handsome man in his thirties with graying temples. He had a lonely, cold disposition and an indifference that kept everyone at a distance.
"Ah, it is Immortal Master Chu Shan!"
The two black-robed Innate cultivators relaxed their guard, their expressions turning sycophantic.
Chu Shan was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation.
In terms of combat strength, he was merely on par with an Innate cultivator.
But he was a Cultivator with a limitless future ahead of him. They, on the other hand, though Innate cultivators on par with High Tier Qi Cultivation Cultivators, had already reached the end of their path in the Human World.
In the presence of a Cultivation Tributor, they were considered inferior and had no choice but to be subservient.
"Mm."
With his hands clasped behind him, Su Chen stepped into the Library Pavilion.
He resided on the seventy-seventh floor, a level that reached straight to the Cloud Peak.
"Pah!"
’What’s he so smug about?’
’He’s just at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation.’
’If it really came to a fight, he might not even be a match for the two of us...’
Once the doors to the Book Collection Martial Pavilion closed, their respectful demeanor vanished. They cursed angrily, their eyes filled with envy for those on the path of cultivation.
Unfortunately,
they had no Spiritual Roots.
It was impossible for them to even spend their entire family fortunes to step onto the Immortal Path and become Loose Cultivators.
Spiritual Roots.
They shattered the immortal-seeking dreams of countless people.
’This place isn’t half bad.’
’The view is excellent.’
’That Chu Shan certainly knew how to pick a spot...’
The seventy-seventh floor of the Book Collection Martial Pavilion was exceptionally elegant and simple. It contained a bamboo chair, a tea stove, a folding screen, an ink wash painting, and an Array Disc. This disc could control the Grand Array inscribed within the Book Collection Martial Pavilion, and in a critical moment, it could unleash power to rival a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Strictly speaking,
the Martial Pavilion had only one true guardian: Su Chen, the sole Guardian Tributor.
The other two Innate cultivators were not permitted inside the Book Collection Martial Pavilion; they were like watchdogs, lackeys who guarded the entrance.
In this secular world, the status of Mortal Cultivation was truly pathetic before a true Cultivator.
However,
at this moment, Su Chen’s identity was that of a Cultivator.
He, too, possessed no Spiritual Root.
But he had achieved Extreme Ascension to Immortality. His Qi and blood had fused, giving birth to an Immortal Power that could be cultivated without the need for a Spiritual Root.
Strictly speaking,
an Extreme Cultivator was still a practitioner of Mortal Cultivation; the path that lay ahead was simply the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Path.
’A peaceful life here is actually quite nice.’
「The 13th year of Daqi Xuan Yun.」
The Crown Prince was acting as Regent,
with the support of a Guardian Foundation Establishment Immortal Master.
Su Chen arrived at the Book Collection Martial Pavilion, once again beginning his life of seclusion deep within the palace.
Nothing ever happened at the Book Collection Martial Pavilion.
And so,
he spent his days on the seventy-seventh floor, poring over the mundane scriptures of the Eastern Domain and reflecting on his own path. He hoped to derive a fourth sword to follow Burial Star, Moon-slaying, and Sun-Chasing—the Three Divine Swords.
Unfortunately,
the third sword was already a Divine Sword of heaven-shattering power.
Even after poring over countless tomes, and with Su Chen’s terrifying level of insight, he couldn’t find even a sliver of inspiration for this fourth sword.
At the same time,
the political situation in the Daqi Court Hall was in turmoil.
As soon as Daqi’s Crown Prince Yi took power as Regent, he began a massive campaign to frame Su Chen—that Nine Times Life-taking Innate who had made but a fleeting appearance. He fabricated charges, branding Su Chen an Extreme Cultivator and launching a large-scale manhunt.
Of course,
his true target wasn’t Su Chen.
Nor could he find Su Chen.
Eventually,
the storm finally broke.
One day, Prince Xue’s mansion was surrounded by the Imperial Army.
The gates of the Prince’s Mansion were shut tight.
A eunuch passed through the ranks of the Imperial Army and knocked on the mansion’s main gate. He wore a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
"Prince Snow, if you please."
"His Highness the Regent suspects you of colluding with a rebellious Extreme Cultivator..."
Inside the Prince’s Mansion.
The mansion was crowded with people. There was no shortage of experts from the Innate Realm and even Life Takers among them. They glared angrily at the eunuch, their gazes drifting toward the distant Imperial Palace, as if they could see the good-for-nothing Crown Prince standing in the Court Hall, drunk on his newfound power.
"Your Highness, you must not go."
"We are willing to proclaim you Emperor and fight our way out!"
An Innate Great Cultivator with a sword at his hip stared coldly at the Imperial Army outside.
Prince Xue was astonishingly talented.
Whether among the common people or in the Court Hall, he had won the hearts of all.
Even the gravely ill Old Emperor had intended to name him Crown Prince and successor to the throne.
It could be said that,
Prince Xue was the people’s choice.
But alas,
in the secular world, in the Daqi Country, the Emperor was never the one with the most power. The ones who truly controlled the succession of the throne were the Five Great Sects, the cultivators—perhaps even a single, lowly Foundation Establishment Immortal Master.
’So what if he’s the people’s choice?’
’This Daqi Country belongs to the Profound Celestial Sect!’
’I have the favor of the Guardian Foundation Establishment Immortal Master. That’s all that matters...’
「In the Court Hall.」
Crown Prince Yi sneered, as if he could already see Prince Snow being thrown into prison.
And indeed, that was how things unfolded.
"Those of the Extreme Realm are the common enemy of the world!"
"I have not colluded with any enemy. What do I have to fear from an investigation?"
"The Guardian Immortal Master is here."
"You cannot protect me, and we cannot escape. I have never been one to implicate others, and I hope you, senior, will do the same. Do not drag others into this..."
Prince Snow gazed deep into the ranks of the Imperial Army and spoke with great solemnity.
’In the struggle between princes, he had never once been outmaneuvered!’
It was just...
’His backing was not as strong as his rival’s, that’s all.’
’The only thing he lacked was a patron from the Immortal Dao! A patron so powerful that even the Profound Celestial Sect would have to show them deference!’
Unfortunately,
he was just a prince of humble birth.
He had no maternal clan to support him.
And so,
he allowed the shackles to be placed on him and was led away by the eunuch.
’He’s an impressive man, in his own way.’